The designation permits the borough to offer incentives, such as tax abatements, to developers of projects in the 5.5-acre area, which includes borough-owned parking lots as well as homes and businesses.

At a meeting Tuesday, March 20 at Borough Hall, residents will be asked to tell officials and planners what they would like to see developed there.

The borough’s planner, Philip Abramson of Topology, also will present opinions gathered from residents at a “visioning session” last June as well as in about 1,000 online surveys completed by residents.

No changes would be made without the cooperation of the 10 property owners, officials said. The borough will not use its power of eminent domain to take properties without the owners’ permission.

In other business, the council approved a resolution authorizing the borough Department of Community Services to plan and operate the 2018 Fishawack celebration Saturday, June 9. That department has organized the Fishawack Festival for the past two years.

The resolution calls for department director Janice Piccolo to submit a budget for the 2018 Fishawack celebration detailing staffing requirements, costs and anticipated revenues to the council before Feb. 26 and to report on the actual costs of the festival by Aug. 13.

Council members amended the resolution to allow a mailing to prospective sponsors of the festival. Otherwise, it prohibits elected or appointed officials and volunteers from directly soliciting monetary or in-kind donations for the event.

Also at the meeting, Borough Administrator Stephen Williams said officials are considering a $25 application fee and $50 inspection fee for each tree that residents want to cut down on their property.

If residents cut down a healthy tree and choose not to plant a new one, they could be charged $350, which the Shade Tree Commission would use to purchase a tree for planting elsewhere, Williams said.

The council has not voted on the suggested fees, which would be part of a revised tree ordinance aimed at preserving the tree canopy.

In October, Colleen Truppo, chairwoman of the commission, reported that the borough has lost 1,200 trees in the past four years.

Capital Budgets

On Monday, Chatham’s chief financial officer, Timothy Day, detailed plans for the borough’s 2018 capital budget, saying its $1 million total matches the amount targeted for capital spending for the past several years. Included in the proposed budget are $150,000 for curbs and sidewalks; $125,000 for sidewalk improvements on North Passaic Avenue; $100,000 for road resurfacing; $100,000 for micro surfacing to maintain roads and $90,000 to buy a paving machine. The borough has received a $105,000 state grant for the North Passaic sidewalk project.

The capital budget also calls for $150,000 to be kept in reserve for the future purchase of a fire truck, which could cost up to $1 million depending on how it is outfitted.

Day said the 2018 water capital budget totals $430,000 and includes $175,000 for relining a water main under Watchung Avenue and $110,000 to buy a backhoe.

The bond ordinance is expected to be introduced at the council’s next meeting, Monday, Feb. 26.

During the public-comment portion of the meeting, several residents asked council members not to disturb two paths that residents use often.

One is the Greenwood, or Dellwood, path that children use to walk to school.

The other is used in the Vine Street path used by many to reach Shepard Kollock Park.

Mayor Bruce Harris said the council would discuss the paths at its next meeting.

Several people asked the council to remain open to allowing a medical marijuana dispensary to operate in Chatham.

Some said cannabis eases their constant pain, allowing them to stop using more dangerous drugs.

The council also approved an ordinance permitting PEG Bandwidth NJ the nonexclusive use of public rights of way. The telecommunications company wants to place fiber-optic cable on existing utility poles.

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